Justice News

Operator Of South Jersey Tax Preparation Company Sentenced To One Year In Prison For $340,000 Tax Fraud Scheme

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Cumberland County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 12 months in prison her role in a conspiracy to boost business at a tax preparation company she operated by preparing bogus income tax returns for her clients, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Noemi Pender, 58, of Rosenhayn, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to Count One of an indictment charging her with conspiring to aid and assist others in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. Judge Hillman imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Pender was a tax preparer who operated Pender Tax Services in Rosenhayn. For the tax years 2007 through 2011, Pender and Grace Garrett, 64, of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, sought to increase referrals, enhance their business, and enrich themselves by preparing and filing income tax returns based on false information. They used a number of fraudulent practices, including falsely claiming a filer was a “head of household,” inventing and inflating deductions, creating fictitious dependents, and creating false credits for education and childcare.

The bogus returns resulted in a tax loss to the government of more than $340,000.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman ordered Pender to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution of $341,439.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.